Anfield bows to its past and hails the future

THE time was six minutes past four, 96 minutes after referee Mike Riley had confirmed Liverpool’s fifth successive Premier League victory.

Rafael Benitez was looking to make a quick getaway but as he negotiated his dark BMW carefully out of the car park, he was stopped at the Shankly Gates by dozens of supporters, desperate for the Spaniard to sign their programmes, shirts, scarves and anything else that came to hand.

Five minutes later, still smiling and with his two backseat passengers showing outstanding patience, the Liverpool manager was still scribbling away.